The Dutch rider Thylen Arensman won the most difficult stage of the Tour de France after a long solo effort over Mammoth Clims, but Tadej Pogacar raised his overall lead on Sunday.
Arensman, who drives for Ineos-Grenadiers, placed the biggest victory of his career. After exceeding the finish line in the deep fog that the ski area of Superbagneres surrendered, Arensman was exhausted on the road with his head in his hands.
He went solo with 37 km from an escape and quickly opened a comfortable lead. He started the last climb to Superbagneres, which is more than 12 km long, alone and opposed the return of the most important contenders.
It was the second Grand Tour stage win by Arensman, who had previously won a stage in the Spanish Vuelta 2022.
While Arensman was not a threat to the general classification, Pogacar and his teammates controlled the race from behind. The yellow jersey holder and his most important challenger, Jonas Vingegaard, followed about three minutes with 8 km left.
Vingegaard tried to go a movement with 4 km, but Pogacar reacted easily. The two rivals then kept a close eye on each other and Arensman first crossed at the top, more than a minute before the duo.
After he won the previous two phases in the Pyrenees, Pogacar was satisfied with second place. He accelerated in the last part to get more time on Vingegaard, which completed the stage.
In general, Pogacar raised his lead over Vingegaard to 4 minutes, 13 seconds, with Florian Lipowitz in third place, 7:53 from the pace after Remco Empepoel left his race.
Empoel, who was generally third, struggled early when the peloton was confronted with another day of suffering on climbs that are part of the Lore of the Tour, such as the Col du Tourmalet, the Col d’Aspin, Col de Peyresourde and Superbagneres.
The Olympic champion was fell on the climb of the Tourmalet. Empelel won the stage five time trial, but suffering in the Pyrenees.
After struggling during Friday’s heavy race against the clock to Peyragudes, he managed to keep his third place in general classification.
Ben O’Connor was the highest finishing Australian rider, in 16th place, with Callum Scotson 19th. O’Connor is in 12th position in general.
In the meantime, a spectator was hit by a car from the Ineos-Grenadiers team on Saturday.
TV statues showed that the team car brought down the fan, it kept what looked like a mobile phone, close to the top of the Col de Peyresourde.
The vehicle followed riders on the steep rise and driving at a moderate speed. There was no immediate information available about the condition of the viewer.
The racing jury later said that the sports director of Ineos-Grenadiers, Oliver Cookson, was given the equivalent of slightly less than $ 10,000 for “incorrect behavior that spectators endangered” and handed a yellow card. Collecting yellow cards during a defined period results in a suspension.
Ineos-Grenadiers apologized “to the fan who was accidentally and unfortunate struck by one of our racing cars while supporting the riders.
“Like all teams, we take care of a safe racing environment for everyone, including the passionate fans who make our sport so special.”
Riders leave the High Mountains on stage on Sunday during a 169 km ride from Muret to the medieval city of Carcassonne.
The race ends next weekend in Paris.
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